IPCC revisits Clive Grunshaw’s expenses

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw

Laura Wild

A police watchdog is to carry out more ‘investigatory work’ into expenses claims made by Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said on Sunday it would revisit its probe, following a complaint over its initial investigation into Clive Grunshaw.

In January, the Crown Prosecution Service announced Mr Grunshaw, who was elected to oversee the police service in the county in November 2012, will not face prosecution on allegations he “double-charged” for journeys made between his Fleetwood home and County Hall, during his time as a county councillor and member of the county’s police authority.

It is understood former county councillor Sam Chapman, whose Freedom of Information request prompted the scrutiny of Mr Grunshaw, has queried the IPCC’s investigation report, which has yet to be published.

An IPCC spokesman said: “The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is to carry out further investigatory work into expenses claims made by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, following representations made after an announcement that no charges were to be brought in the case.”

Mr Grunshaw said: “I have received no indication from the IPCC that they intend to reopen their investigation.

“The only correspondence I have received from the IPCC was to tell me they had delayed publishing the final report in order to make it ‘evidentially sound and properly balanced’.

“The CPS concluded I had no case to answer and as far as I’m concerned that has drawn a line under Sam Chapman’s allegations against me.

“I believe Mr Chapman is once again trying to score political points when it has already been proved his allegations against me were false.”